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Smoke Canisters Used by Beekeepers

Beekeepers, who help produce honey, engage in beekeeping as both a hobby and a business. Smoke canisters, also referred to as smokers, are vital to the production of honey. A smoke canister is made to burn fuel in a closed, almost oxygen-free environment. The canister distributes smoke into the beehive, where it can calm the bees. The Dyce Laboratory for Honey Bee Studies gives beginning beekeepers access to detailed information on the production process.

Types of Canisters
- Beekeepers use different types of smoke canisters. Stainless steel is a good canister choice because it's sturdy and won't corrode. Smoke canisters made from copper are the more traditional type. While they won't corrode either, the metal is more susceptible to heat damage. Other types of smoke canisters are made from galvanized steel. According to the American Galvanizers Association, galvanized steel is beneficial "for its superior corrosion protection and durability, but also for its low maintenance, economical benefits, low environmental impact."
Parts of the Canister
- Smoke canisters are simple devices with a few standard parts.The primary parts are the barrel, the firebox, the bellows and the venturi tube. Safety guards are also common, though optional. In the last few decades, all types of smokers have changed the material that is used to make the bellows. In modern bellows, a cloth known as Rexine is commonly used, instead of the more expensive leather used previously.
Canister Sizes
- The size of the barrel on a smoker can vary, but there are two particular height and width combinations that are common. Both 180 mm (7.2 inches) and 250 mm (10 inches) are typical heights and 75 mm (3 inches) and 100 mm (4 inches) are typical widths. These dimensions are generally used in any combination. Approximately 90 percent of the smoke canister manufacturers in English-speaking countries recognize these as standard dimensions.
Function of the Canister
- The smoke canister's barrel contains the firebox, where a small oxygen-starved fire is started. The bellows is used to shoot a blast of air down the venturi tube, allowing a fire just enough oxygen to burn and smoke. As the University of California Small Farm Program explains, "Bee hives are stacks of four-sided, bottomless boxes that hold wooden frames upon which the bees build their combs." Beekeepers must extract the wooden frames containing the honeycombs. Smoke keeps the bees calm and allows the beekeeper to reach into the hive safely.
Canister Modifications
- Some beekeepers choose to modify their smokers. A common adaptation involves improving how the bellows performs. A small brass cone or tin plate is used to cover the air exit hole on the bellows. This allows the air to travel faster along the venturi tube and reach farther into the firebox. It also increases the volume of air the bellows delivers with each pulse.

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